Powdering machine



Aug. 9,1927. H. R. CONGDON 1,638,556

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i I l" Y V11 H. R. coNcsDoN POWDBRING MACHINE Original Filed July l5, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 'I fnummumfmnw Mmmm 1g mi? a ma! v lllllllllmu 1| ,i IIIIINIIIIHIHUII Patentedl-ug. 19727;

*iTEDfSTA-TES Pif HARRY n.v coNGDoN; vor SAN .ranivcisod cALIroRivrA.

rovvnsaiiveV MACHINE.

Application led July 15, 1924, Serial.

My invention relates to improvements in machines for powdering .plates preparatory to the etching processin preparing zinc cuts and the like 'for printing purposes.

.5 In preparing zinccuts and the like, zinc plates, bearing the device tobe printed, 'are etched with acid to cut away the surface of the metal Jfrom those portions ofthe plate which are not to receive ink for printing; the portions of the plate which are 'toreceive ink being protectedv from the Vacidby anacid proof coating. As is well knownin the fart,

va protective coating placed only upon the J powder melts, or, as commonly termed, is

burnt in to form an acid proof coating upon the surfaces covered with 'the powder. The plate is then further etched to 'deepen the depressions. If necessary the plate vis again powdered and etched to still further deepen the depressions, 4the process lbeing repeated until the desired depth has been at- Common :practice heretofore 'has been to applyY and brush the powder into the corners of the depressions manually by means of a brush moved back and "forth yacross the surf tace oi the plate in alfl directions to brushthe Vpowder intothe corners of the depressions and toremove surplus powder trom the plate. At best thisfis aslow :and tedious v,process depending for its effectiveness upon f the "care andskill of the workman.

present invention .is therefore directed to "a powderinganaohine for carrying out the above described powdering process, the primary object being to providean improved device whereby plates may be quickly and -etciently powdered.y .l Y

.Anotherobject of my :invention is to provide ran improved machine whichwi'l-l back y the etching powder uniformly to .the'correct degree within the corners .'o the etched .de-V

pressions in the plate.4

,A .further ofbf'eet is to jprovide'la device brushed 'to fill in vthe edges of the which,

No. 726,185. Renewed April 22, 119271 wherein a plurality of revolving brushes are counterba-lanced to obtain a lightness yo stroke adapted tofetfectively 4bank the powder and to `prevent-.the 'displacement of the 6o banked powder by l'u'rther ymovement of the brushes.v v f Another obj-ect toi-provide an* improved l 'l device of the: character' described wherein the brushes are automatic'-allyY dusted after each stroke to remove excess powder, 'thereby in'creasii'ig'the eectiveness ofthe' "machine s i and increasing .theiife oft-he brushes.

yi A'furth'er yobject -isyto providea machine i adapted to .insure fthe-correct positioning of t'he fbru`shes' and plate with respect to, each Y O'therwhereby a unit'orrnoperation will be Y obtained at alltimes.

accomplish 'these yand yother objects by means oi' the device'fdis'closedV in the draw'-y ings forming a part fof the present specifica-f tion 'wherein like characters of'erei'fer'ence fare used to designate similar'parts throughoutV i said spe'ciication and drawings and ,fin w Fig'. jl is afbroken plan view vofmy'im--k provedpowdering machine.

' Fig. 2 lajbroken longitudinal vertical se'ctionof theorward part ofthe housing, show nupon a'jsoniewh'at largerscale. Fig. 3 is'a brolrentrans'verse vertical section taken upon the line 3-#3 YOf F ig. l injthe 1 directionindicated.

Fig. 4 is a broken brushes are dusted longitudinal sectional f view showing the {manner in which the 1 9oy Fig. 5 anfe'nlarged sectional detail ls how-l ing thefmanner 1n which the powder is jf f banked intothe corners ofthe 'depressions v Y Referring to the drawings the numeral 1 is used to designate Ain general a'housing consisting of aibox like base openatthe i" forward end thereof and vprovided` movable cover portions @and '3.

A 'shaft 4 .is mounted "within 'the forward portion of the-housing1,;oneend'of said shaft extending outwardly from the side 'of f thehousing and arranged to belconneeted"tol asuirtabile 'actuating' means such as a Adriving gea-r @whereby fthe shaft may be rotated. i plurality .of brushes 7 are -pivo'tally` mounted in cvonnectionwith the shaft 4, said .brushes being mounted between triangular los mounting elements 8 secured in spacedrela non upon the aan. nachfbmsh '7 `'is mountedupon pinsf9' positioned so' astojsub- 'ing provided Vupon theend carrying the vbristles "1l so thatthe bristles will norinallybeV doivnwardly disposeduThe elements 8 ref' c-eiVe the shaft et at their approximate cenf ters so that `the points of thetriangu'lar ele-V inents are equally spaced from the shaft and KVthe brushes inounte'd "successively between the points in such nianiier that each brush is supported-at ananglejot approximately 1209 from the other brushes with :respect to the sharftl sothatthe several brushes substantiallycountei'balaiiceeach other. l5`

. The shaft l is inounted between upwardlyV disposedy extensions l2 formed upon the forward 'ends 'of theside portions of the housing'ghgsaid' extensions. being substantially .circular in .shapeand adapted to close the nds of fthe. v@over portion 3 whichl is shaped VVto lit around the circular portions of the 1 extensions rand enclose the brushes L withtice.

i' inV the housing. .The cover kportion is pro-A vided withfa rearward Vdisposed `iange jadaptedgtobe4 engaged under the toi-ward;

end ot the cover portion 2. A,orwardly disposed i'iangelGis formed' upon the opposite edge? ot theV cov-er portion to pari ',tially close tliefforin of the housing, said flange 16 being engaged at its ends by suitabletastening elements 17 whereby the cover Ainayflpe detachably held upon the housing.V A roller :1 8 is inounted across the fore.

Y ward/ portionJof thehousing y1 below the "shaft 4:. and brushes@- said roller being freelyrotatablewithin. bearings 19 formed in fthesideineinbers of tlie'hou'sing. l. y'I he roller isipositioned to support and guide av platej.f2lwitliin the pathY of 'ther revolving brushes 7 and` is spaceda sufficient distance below the shaft 4c Vto cause; the brushes to be dragged at anangleacross the surface of k the plateKVV when said brushes. are carried "therepast by the rotation. of' the 'shaft- 4;

Theiedgesjof .the-..brushes'f7 .are preferably beveledatan'angle-such: thatlas the brush is;y `inoved across.v .the plate a` substantially Y iflat.bruslrsurface,. tapering otfto a fineisharpr liled i. hpv@ digi.

to rest. .upon v.the roller 1 8.

point, will bepresented to the surface o "the'plate.

In-j `operation..the.shaft 4l rotated, either manually. or by; suitable. application of power.7 andthefbrushes revolved within the y,housing.` .ietf plate 21 upon Vwhich Ya' suitable q uantity'.o it' vfetching powder has been sprinislthenliiiserted into the Vfront ojli the the end of the .plate being. caused The plateQl isthei'ijhinoved inwa'r'dly into the housing, thevv` bristles lot ythe. revolving brushes v7' being Vdragged over thesurfaoe ot' the plate andV sweeping the powder into the-. edges jot'Ydepression`s.22 "and .banking the powder against the si'deskof the raised portions as atQS. The'e'xcess powder is swept toward of the depressions inthe plate.

the bach of the plate. The plate is now withdrawn Vtroni the housing, the [return .inoiieiiient of `the -plate causing the 'plate to be `again swept by the brushes and the excess 'powder banked agi/jainstthe edges o'.

the raised portions oit' the plate Vto Vtill inany low'fplaces which ii'iay have bcenrleft by the .til-st sweeping'. andthe excess powder swept-` ol"lV from'the' plate. The plate is now turned and again inserted Vso that the brushes will .sweep the plate in the oping of the plate as intheordinary. 'prac-y By-causing the powder to b eswept andr banked into the corners ot the' depressions by the rapidly revolving brusheswhich are heldfiiracciiiately spaced relation to the plate throughout the operation the powder is lvery quickly and evenly ap'pliedand Y etching v thusmaterially facilitated. l A

The brushes 17 are VVmountedy in'k counterbalanced position upon the 'pivot'.pins"9 'so that the bristles: will yrest vlightly against the surtace Yof the ypl zuFe 1-2l, theicouiiterbalancing oit the brush permittingthe Aslightest pressure to swing ythe brush upon its inouiit the ing .and the bristles tofride over thesur-lface of the plate with'the'lightest possible pressure. rlhis isiniportaiitas a inore 'I vmounting of the brushes, or a mounting even permitting the` full Aweight lol" vtheA brush* to rest upon the platefwould result in sweeping the powder entirelyout of thedepres? sions without banking 'thefrequirecl ainount against the 'edges oif'the raised'portions'sot the plate. By inyj'countei-balancedniouiit# ing, onlyv the slight 'excess oi weight `carried upon thebristle endfot'f' the brush is carried byj'the plate. By i 'ranging a". plurality otv brushes 1209 apartftlie entirefas sen'ibly of brushes is balanceijl witl'i,V respect to vthe shaft 4l so that the shaft will rotate freely and cause a unitorni action.' entirely 1 across the width ofthe plate.

yAs the brushes 7 are nioved'awaytrointhe plate 2l the centrifugal A'force' causes the bristles to be swung rearward*against vthe edge of the cover. poitionf as bestshownin Fig. lV of the drawings. As tlie7bristlesfll strikethe edge ot 'the cover anyfeiieess powH der clinging to the brush will' bedustedv ott and Ytall upon the rearward portionl of the plate or into the housing ,1, thereby keeping the brushes clean and preventinga deposit nf' powderlfr'oni beingplace'd upon-'fthe fop- 1?; casas-eet plate. In the ordinary quent intervals. By expelling the powder by light strokes-during; each revolution of the-brushes the brushes Vare kept clean'at all times; thereby maintaining the effectiveness of' the -brushes and materially increasing the life of the brushes. i Y

From the above description-it w-ill be seen that Ihave provided a new and improved means: for'powdering plates `preparatory toetching. VVhilel have shown and-described? onef particularl structure as` embodying the principle of the invention, I do not desire to restrict vmyself to lthe' specific structure shown as the number and the form and arrangement of partsvmay be modified in a great many wayswithout departing from the spirit of my invention, but wish, rather, to avail myself of all modifications which may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim. as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is, j

l. A powdering machine comprising a housing; a brush pivotally mounted upon one axis and revolvable withinthe housing about a different axis; and means for guiding a plate within the path of the brush whereby etching powder may be banked within depressions upon the surface of the plate preparatory to etching.

2. A machine for powdering plates, pre- .paratory for etching, comprising a housing;

a counterbalanced brush pivotally mounted upon one axis andv revolvable within the housing about a -different axis; yand means for guiding a plate within the path of the brush whereby etching powder may vbe banked within depressions upon the surface of the plate.

3. A machine for powderlng plates, preparatory for etching, comprisingahousing;

a plurality of counterbalanced brushes pivotally swung upon separate axes and arranged to be revolved within the housing about a common axis; and means for guiding a. plate within the path of the brush whereby etching powder may be banked within depressions upon the surface @of the Y plate.`

and arranged to be revolved within the hous` ing about a common axis; means for revolving the brushes; and means for guiding a plate within the path 'of the brushes whereby etchingp owderfmay'be bankedv within de'- pressions .upon the vsurfaceof ythe 'platee 5. A machine for'rpowdering plates; pref, paratory. for-etching compris-ing a housing; a shaft mounted with'inthe forward portionj of the-housing; a-'plurality of brushes piv' otally lconnected upon the shaft and adapted' i tobe revolved by said shaft; and meansifor guiding. afplatefwithinf'the path 'l offthe-V brusheswhereby etching powder may be` off theplate;

6. A machiner for powdering*`plates,vpre=1 p aratory for etching; comprisinga housing; ashaft mounted withinftheforward portionv of-the housing; af plurality- 'ofi counterbalV vbankedwithin Vdepressions uponthe surface.y

anced'brushes pivotall-y connected upon/the I shaft andl adapted tofbe revolved byfsaidj shaft, said brushes being positioned to conne terbaianceneach other withl respect ftothe shaft; means for rotating the shaft and brushes;and means for guiding a plato within the path of the brushes vwhereby etching powder may be banked within depressions upon the surface of the plate.

7. A machine for powdering plates, preparatory for etching, comprising a housing; a shaft mountedV within the forward portion of the housing; a plurality of counterbalanced brushes pivotally connected upon the shaft and adapted to be revolved by said shaft; means for guiding a plate within the path of the rotating brushes whereby etching powder may `be banked within depressions upon the surface ,ofthe plate; and a detachable cover enclosing the brushes, said cover being provided with an edge adapted to be struck by the bristles 'of 'the brushesv when said brushes are moved away from the plate for displacing excess brushes.

8. A machine for powdering plates, preparatory for'etching, comprising a housing; a shaft mounted within the forward portion of the housing; a plurality ,ofbrushespivotally mounted upon the shaft; means for rotat powder from the ing the shaft and the brushes; and a -rollef mounted below the shaft to supportand guide a plater within the pathof the brushes whereby etching powder may be banked within depressions upon vthe surface ofthe plate.

A machine for powdering plates,- prey paratory for etching, comprising a housing; ay

shaft mounted within the forward portion of the housing; a plurality of mounting ele,- ments secured in spaced relation upon the shafts; a plurality of brushes pivotally mounted vbetween adjacent mounting elements and adapted to be revolved within the housing, said-brushes being counterbalanced with respect to theirpivot mountings andarranged to counterbalance each other with respect to the shaft; and a roller mounted below the shaft to support and guide a plate i vwithin the path of the brushes whereby etch-v preparatory for etching, comprising` a housing; a shaft mounted within the forward portion Vof the housing; a plurality of mount ling elements secured in spaced relation upon the shaft; a plurality ofrbrushes pivotally mounted between the mounting elements in spaced relation to the shaft; meansfor rotating the shaft to revolve the brushes ywithin lthe housing; and a roller lmounted below the shaft to support and guide a plate within the path of the` brushes, said brushes beingy dragged at an angle across the surface of the` plate to bank etching powderinto the edges of depressions formed in the surface'of' the plate.

l1. A machine for powderng .vplates,

`r e-Xcess powder from the 'brushes preparatory foretching, comprisingjafhousing; ashaft mounted within the forward portion of the housing; a vplurality of brushes pvotally mounted in connect-onwth the shaft; means for rotating. the .shaft to revolverthe brushes within the housing;` al

roller mounted `below the shaft to support vand guide a plate within thepath of the brushes, said brushes being dragged at an angle across the surface of the plate 'to bank etching powder into the edges of depressions formed 1n the surface of the plate; and.

a cover enclosing the brushes and provided with an edge adapted to be struck by they bristles of the brushes as thev saine areA moved away from the plate' for In witness whereof I hereuntoset Amyv-sig-A HARRY R. V'COGDon. 1

nature.

35, displacing 

